U.K. MIDWEEKS: A SINGLES BATTLE BREWS

Gabrielle Aplin could score her second U.K. Top 10 as her Phosphorescent (Never Fade) is the week’s highest entry on the U.K.’s Official Albums Chart. Over on singles, the question is whether Lewis Capaldi can knock RAYE off the top spot.

Phosphorescent is starting at #4, two slots below the peak of Aplin's 2013 debut, English Rain.

Taylor Swift’s Midnights (EMI) remains at #1 at today’s halfway point, gunning for a fifth week at the top. SZA’s SOS (RCA/Top Dawg) holds steady at #2.

Iggy Pop could secure his second U.K. Top 10 with Every Loser (Gold Tooth/ Atlantic), starting at #9.

Former chart-topping albums from Sam Fender and The 1975 may climb this week, with Seventeen Going Under (Polydor) currently up to #22, while Being Funny in a Foreign Language (Dirty Hit) could jump to #24.

On the U.K.’s Official Singles midweeks, RAYE f/070 Shake’s “Escapism.” (Human Re Sources) remains at #1. However, with Capaldi’s “Pointless” (EMI) less than 2k in sales behind, the top spot is in play.

Thanks to a new remix featuring BRITs Rising Star winner FLO, Stormzy’s “Hide & Seek” (0207 Def Jam) is set to rise four places to #14, having peaked at #7 last year.

“Rumble” (OWSLA/Atlantic) by Skrillex, Fred again.. and Flowdan could be this week’s highest new singles entry, at #16.